Tag Archives: Pineda

Shohei Ohtani apparently has an elbow issue, much like the Yankees’ Tanaka has. So the Angels will have to be careful with him.

Michael Pineda signed a 2-yr. $10MM deal with the Twins. Pineda needed Tommy John surgery, went down in mid-year for the Yanks and won’t be ready for the Twins until 2019. With the Yanks he was mediocre, 31-31, 4.16, ERA+ 101. Average. He should have been much more.

Gary Sanchez has lost weight. This is to increase flexibility behind the plate to avoid all those wild pitches and passed balls.

The price of pitching is higher than expected. MLBTR.com estimated where pitchers would go and for how much. They are wrong in their predictions of where pitchers would go, but are WAY under in their estimations of how much $$$ those pitchers would get.

As for Todd Frazier returning to the Yankees…..he probably wants a multi-year deal and the Yanks won’t give him that…..Number 1, Manny Machado is a free agent after 2018, and number 2, why give him a multi-year deal when you have a minor league prospect, Miguel Andujar, almost ready?

The Yanks are working on another deal. They have discussed Michael Fulmer of the Tigers (who beat out Sanchez for ROY in 2016), Gerrit Cole of the Pirates, and are talking to the Diamondbacks about both LHP Patrick Corbin and also infielder Brandon Drury.

As my friend Josh (the Yankee Truth) states, if the Yanks make the deal with AZ, can they now promote Judge and Drury?

The Yanks have a lot of top-notch prospects that are blocked by players like Judge and Stanton, etc. If they are top prospects, but blocked for what seems like years to come, best to spin them off to fulfill needs.

I smell something big coming up. We’ll see what it is.

The Rule 5 draft ends the Winter meetings tomorrow. Expect the Yanks to lose a couple of prospects.

Bob Costas has been elected to the HOF for his broadcasting.

Chase Headley may not be long for the Padres after the Yanks just dealt him there. He could be turned right around to the Angels.

Free agency starts, and the Yankees didn’t offer qualifying offers ($17.4MM) to any of its free agents, Matt Holliday, Michael Pineda and CC Sabathia. Since Todd Frazier and Jaime Garcia were traded mid-season, they didn’t qualify for the offers.

Personally, outside of maybe re-signing CC for only a 1-yr. deal (and if they get the Japanese “Babe Ruth”, Shohei Otani, a 23 yr. old who not only pitches but hits well, CC wouldn’t be necessary), I would go after Alex Avila and see if he would back up Gary Sanchez. Avila is a lefty bat with a little pop. If he could catch 80 games, and hit .240 with 10 HR, I’d be happy. Austin Romine is a nice defensive catcher, but Romine can’t hit a lick (.218-2-21 in 80 games this year, OPS+ only 49).

As for Todd Frazier, it’s hard to see the Yanks bringing him back on a multi-year deal when they have not only Headley signed for next year, but also have prospects Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar so close to being major league ready.

The Yanks did add Jake Cave and Nick Rumbelow to the 40-man roster. Cave, a soon to be 25 year old OF, is a lefty bat who hit .305-20-56 in 103 games between AA/AAA this year. Rumbelow, 26. a righty reliever, was briefly with the Yanks in 2015, going 1-1, 4.02. He missed all of 2016 recovering from TJ surgery, and was 5-1, 1.12 with six saves between AA and AAA this year.

Finalists for the top baseball awards were announced. Finalist means that person finished in the top three. Winners will be announced next week.

Ten candidates have been selected for Modern Era Hall of Fame consideration. 75% of the vote of a panel is necessary to enshrine these people not selected by the writers. Formerly known as the Veterans’ Committee, this year they concentrate on overlooked candidates who mostly had their impact from 1970-1987. They are Marvin Miller (advocate for the players and the players union), Don Mattingly,Tommy John, Steve Garvey, Jack Morris, Alan Trammell, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Ted Simmons, and Luis Tiant. You can make a case for all of them. (Bold are players who, even briefly, played for the Yankees).

Brian Cashman came out today and said the reason Joe Girardi wasn’t brought back as manager was because of a disconnect and lack of communication with the players. Girardi stated that he would like to manage again somewhere.

The Yanks continued their slump, and hopefully they start a winning streak soon or else not only will a playoff spot slip out of their hands, but they may fall under .500.

The last time the Yanks finished below .500 was in 1992.

On a day when it was confirmed that both Michael Pineda and Greg Bird will be undergoing surgery, the Yanks lost to the Twins 4-2. That dropped their record to 47-44. They are 9-21 in their last 30 games.

Aaron Judge has been in a slump since winning the HR Derby during the All Star break. He’s something like 1 for 21 since the break. He isn’t the only Yankee who has lost a lot of points off his batting average lately. The team’s OPS+ has dropped from around 110 to 104 now.

Hopefully they turn it around soon.

Bryan Mitchell started in place of the injured Pineda and was decent enough, giving up two runs, one earned, in five innings.

Down 2-0 in the fifth, the Yanks got one run back on doubles by Garrett Cooper and Austin Romine.

In the seventh, they tied the game on doubles by Chase Headley and Cooper.

For Cooper, it was the best day of his MLB career so far. Just brought up last week, Cooper went into the game 1 for 10, but went 3 for 4 with two doubles & an RBI. Fellow rookie Clint Frazier had two doubles.

Caleb Smith made his MLB debut and pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh. Joe Girardi pushed his luck with the rookie and paid for it when Smith gave up two runs in the eighth. Maybe a more experienced veteran wasn’t available for the eighth (esp. after that 16 inning affair Saturday and the DH Sunday) and Girardi stated that his hands were tied and options limited, but you were wondering about a kid making his MLB debut pitching the eighth inning of a 2-2 game, and going into his third inning of work. After pitching two scoreless innings, Smith got burned in the eighth, giving up two runs and taking the loss in his MLB debut.

Trade rumors are heating up regarding the A’s and 1B Yonder Alonso. You wonder if RHP Sonny Gray may also be involved, since with the Pineda injury and the DH Sunday, the Yanks are forced to start Mitchell & Cessa in back to back games.

We now know why the Yanks delayed so long in announcing their rotation setup for the Boston series.

It’s because Michael Pineda probably has thrown his last pitch as a Yankee.

Pineda was to become a free agent at the end of the year. Any chance of him ca$hing in disappeared when he was diagnosed over the All Star break with a torn UCL. Tommy John surgery has been recommended and he’ll be out for the rest of the year. He won’t return until late 2018 at the earliest, maybe not until 2019.

This is very much like what happened to Nathan Eovaldi. The Yanks let him go, and another team signed him on the cheap, waiting out 2017 with Eovaldi and hoping he’ll be ok for 2018. The same could happen with Pineda, just one year later. It does appear Pineda is done as a Yankee, much like Eovaldi was.

In the meantime, Bryan Mitchell (this Sunday) and Luis Cessa (later) will be taking Pineda’s spot. Manager Joe Girardi said that Chance Adams isn’t ready for a callup to the big leagues yet. Despite a great record, Girardi stated that Adams still has some things to work on first.

As for a trade to get a pitcher, we’ll see. You know the other teams will hold the Yanks up, knowing they are desperate.

Also, it was revealed that Greg Bird has had yet another setback and surgery on his ankle is looking more and more likely.

Garrett Cooper made his MLB debut for the Yanks last night, and it was a rough one for him, as he struck out three times.

Then there was the game, which the Yanks blew by giving up 2 runs in the bottom of the ninth to Boston. Boston won 5-4. The Yanks are now 45-42, and and 7-19 in their last 26 games.

The loss dropped the Yanks into third place in the AL East, 4 1/2 games behind Boston. Tampa Bay jumped into second.

Boston didn’t even hit the ball out of the infield in scoring those two runs.

The bullpen, which was such a strength in April and May, has become a disaster.

In this 7-19 skid, TEN of the Yankees’ losses have been by one run. TEN.

Some problems: While they are 26-17 at home, they are 19-25 on the road. They have to start winning on the road.

More importantly, they need to start winning one run games. They are 9-18 this season in one-run games. Unacceptable.

They scored first on a Gary Sanchez RBI single in the third, but Boston’s Hanley Ramirez hit a 2-run HR in the bottom of the frame to put the Red Sox up 2-1. Boston got an RBI single from Dustin Pedroia to put Boston up 3-1 in the fourth.

Jordan Montgomery only lasted four innings. Chad Green did another great job in relief and probably should be considered for the later innings and more important work.

In the fifth, Headley doubled, Gardner singled in a run, and Sanchez hit a 2-run HR (14) to put the Yanks up 4-3.

In that bottom of the ninth, Aroldis Chapman gave up two infield hits, and a double steal put men on second and third with no one out. Ronald Torreyes’ second error of the game enabled the tying run to score, and after an intentional walk to load the bases, Chapman walked in the winning run.

Chapman, who the Yanks signed to a five-year deal this offseason to bring him back, hasn’t been the dominating Chapman of years past. He spent some time on the DL earlier this year, and you wonder if that usage in last year’s postseason by the Cubs is having an after effect. A 3.92 ERA is quite high, esp. for him.

The bullpen has to get straightened out. The Yanks have to start closing out these one-run games, not blowing them. It seems like Chad Green has been the only good, consistent bullpen guy lately, maybe Warren, too.

The Yanks have three more games in Boston this weekend (day/night DH Sunday) then go to Minnesota and Seattle. By the time the trip is over, we’ll know a lot about whether this team is still in it or not. These next two weeks are important, both from a win/loss standpoint and for what the team does in the trade market.

The Yanks did get Matt Holliday back last night (rough night, 0 for 4, 3 strikeouts) and should get Starlin Castro back off the DL today.

But they don’t pitch, and the Yanks need to be shutting down opponents late in games.

You can talk about the injuries all you want, but with the Yanks going 23-30 after a 21-9 start, you have to look at the bullpen. Once a strength, it is killing them lately. Be it Clippard a few weeks ago, Betances now, or Chapman giving up a big double in Houston the other day, what was a strength is killing the Yanks right now.

Despite Aaron Judge tying the Yanks’ record for HR in a season by a rookie, held since 1936 by none other than Joe DiMaggio, the day was a disappointment as the Yanks came back from 5-0 down to take a 6-5 lead, only to lose 7-6 because all of a sudden, Dellin Betances can’t throw strikes. He walked a bunch in Houston the other day and in facing five batters today, walked four of them to force in the winning run.

The Yanks’ pitchers gave up 4 HR today as well. Despite the injuries to Hicks, Castro & Holliday, you can still overcome that with great pitching. After all, the other team can’t win if they can’t score. But the Yankees’ pitching, especially the bullpen, has failed them lately.

After a 21-9 start, the Yanks are 23-30. Those 53 games are 1/3 of the season. Those 53 games, multiplied by 3, are 69-90. That is awful and must change.

For the season, the Yanks are 44-39, but slowly dropping to the .500 level. That is unacceptable.

Michael Pineda reverted to the bad Pineda today, giving up 3 HR. He is a lot like A.J. Burnett used to be. You don’t know if you will get the good or bad that day.

After 3 1/2 innings, the Yanks were down 5-0. They got two runs back on Aaron Judge’s 2-run HR in the bottom of the fourth. HR #29 tied Joe DiMaggio (1936) for the most HR by a Yankees’ rookie. The MLB record or 49 was set in 1987 by Mark McGwire.

The Yanks made it 5-4 in the fifth, when Ji-Man Choi, just called up to replace Chris Carter at 1B, hit a 2-run HR (1), a 457 foot blast.

Later that inning, Didi Gregorius hit a 2-run double to put the Yanks up 6-5.

Chad Green gave up a HR in the seventh that tied the game. It was the fourth HR Yankees’ pitchers gave up in the game.

In the eighth, Dellin Betances faced five batters. He struck out one but walked the other four, forcing in what proved to be the winning run.

The strength when the Yanks started 21-9 has turned into a weakness. Whether it was Clippard a few weeks ago, Betances now, or Chapman giving up a key double the other day, the Yanks need to get their bullpen right.

In those last 53 games, that the Yanks have gone 23-30 in, the Yanks have lost 14 by one run. 14. Win 1/2 of those 14, and they are 30-23 in those games, and instead of 44-39, are 51-32.

Big difference. The Yanks are 9-17 in one run games this year. Make that even at 13-13 and instead of being four games out, then they are tied for first with Boston.

Say all you want about the injuries, but the bullpen has to be better, and they need to win those one-run games.

Ouch. The Yanks fell behind 3-0, battled back to tie it at 3, and Girardi went “formula” bringing in his “seventh inning” guy, Tyler Clippard, who has been pitching poorly lately, and who blew the game.

The Yanks lost 8-3.

Those who know me know I hate managers who go by the book or binder. You aren’t hired to go by the book or binder. You are hired to USE YOUR BRAIN. To see what is going on and act accordingly by what you are seeing.

I consider managers who go by the book or binder lazy managers. If you have to go by that, and not by your gut, your eyes, what you are SEEING, then to me, you are a lousy manager. Sorry, but…

Michael Pineda gave up a run in the first and two more in the second to put the Yanks in a 3-0 hole. An error by Chris Carter led to the two runs in the second, both unearned.

In the fourth, Castro singled, Sanchez walked, and a couple of flyouts made it 3-1. SF for Headley.

Aaron Judge’s 24th HR of the year made it 3-2 in the fifth, and Gary Sanchez’ 12th HR in the sixth made it a 3-3 tie.

Then Clippard came in and gave up a HR, double, and flyout that was caught at the fence. At this point, I pull him. After all, three batters, a HR, double, and out that was close to being a 2-run HR. I pull him.

Instead, Clippard stays in to give up another double. Not that it would have mattered anyway, given the final score, but maybe a reliever here keeps it at 4-3 and the Yanks have a chance for a comeback.

Leaving Clippard in for that fourth batter and second double killed off any chance at a comeback.

Now, the Yanks only got 4 hits on the night, so blame has to be put on the offense, but please put away the binder, etc. and go by what you see. And if a guy gives up a HR, double and long flyout caught in front of the fence on his first three batters, then you know he doesn’t have it and get him the heck out of there.

With the loss, the Yanks fall to 38-30, 1/2 game back of Boston.

Here is what I mean. See below. Shreve faces ONE batter. Strikes him out. So why the bleep do you take him out to go to your “seventh inning guy”? Doing so takes a pitcher out who did well with the one batter he faced, puts in a new pitcher who stunk and cost you the game.

Whatever happened to riding the hot hand? Shreve here, was the hot hand. Pulled for NO GOOD REASON, other than you are going to your “seventh inning guy.”

What bullshit.

Please, Joe. Next time, go by your gut and what you are seeing. Throw the book away and get rid of that “7th inning guy” “8th inning guy” “9th inning guy” bullshit.

Use your eyes. Manage by what you see.

I blame modern baseball, and modern baseball managing, for this loss. Shreve faced one batter and got him out. Why pull him?

That first game in the majors has to be exciting. Unfortunately for Ronald Herrera, it resulted in a loss.

Herrera was called up from AA Trenton earlier in the day when Ben Heller was sent back to the minors. The Yanks needed a fresh arm. He gave up a late 2-run HR that doomed the Yanks as they lost 7-5 to the Angels Wednesday night. The loss cuts the Yanks’ (38-25) AL East lead to two games since Boston beat the lowly Phillies.

It started out good. In the first, Gardner singled, and with one out, Judge singled. Judge stole second and Matt Holliday just missed a 3-run HR as he hit a SF. After Castro was HBP, Sanchez hit a 3-run HR (11) to make it 4-0.

But Michael Pineda didn’t have much tonight, giving up a run in the first, two in the second and two more in the third. He did gut out six innings.

That run in the first that Pineda gave up could have been more. Aaron Hicks took a grand slam away from Luis Valbuena. It went as a SF instead.

In the second, the Yanks wasted a one-out triple by Rob Refsnyder. I would have loved to have had Gardner squeeze in a run, but as readers of this blog know, the one criticism I have of Girardi is that he never squeezes home a run. This, and other things, contributed to the loss. Instead, Refsnyder was left stranded.

Didi Gregorius (.337) extended his hitting streak to 16 games, but was hit by a batted ball on a single by Chase Headley in the fourth when the Yanks got three hits but no runs.

In the fifth, with two out, Judge reached on an error and Holliday and Castro both singled. Judge was thrown out at the plate however, on a bad send by 3B coach Joe Espada. Judge hadn’t even reached third when the LF fielded the ball and Judge was out easily.

The Yanks did tie the game in the sixth when Sanchez singled and went to second on an error. After Didi struck out, Headley singled to tie the game at five.

In the seventh, Hicks laid down a beautiful bunt for a hit. I wish Gardner had done that with Refsnyder on third in the second.

After Pineda went six innings, Girardi brought in Herrera. I was a little surprised at that because of the flight to CA (figure you’d give a guy a chance to rest a day after the flight before bringing him in… flight could take something out of you, esp. cross-country, and esp. after a 3:30 AM wakeup call to tell you you’ve been promoted) and also that Herrera was doing great as a STARTER at AA Trenton. You don’t know how he would do as a reliever. That’s a different area. Herrera gave up a 2-run HR to Andrelton Simmons in the seventh which decided the game.

It seems as if Girardi was looking long term (at least, according to a NY Post article) and willing to sacrifice one game for the long term benefit of his bullpen, which he described as “fried.”

The Yanks got a break in the ninth, when with two out, Hicks’ long drive seemed to be caught against the wall by the RF. The call was overturned and Hicks was given a double, meaning Judge was up as the tying run. Although he hit the ball hard, Judge grounded out to third to end the game.